I think it’s funny that this is even news…
Do I have a problem with the fact that the NFL is allowing teams to place patches containing sponsors on their practice jerseys? Absolutely not! Nobody is going to see these patches except for the few hundred people who actually go watch training camp anyway.
The beauty of a capitalist society like America is that organizations have the right to do whatever they want in order to make money, as long as it doesn’t infringe upon the rights of anyone else. Who cares if the Packers or Texans want to have a “Brawndo: The Thirst Mutilator” patch on their sleeve while they do calisthenics in front of a crowd of boy scouts and fantasy football addicts? (MAN do I miss football!)
I visited the Cleveland Browns’ Training Camp many times, and there’s already sponsorship crap everywhere! From spinning the banking wheel to signing up for health insurance, the whole scene is littered with slogans and “Official Team Sponsor” verbiage. Why should a player’s jerseys be any different?
People visit Training Camp to get a pre-season look at the talent on their beloved teams. They get to enjoy some warm, summer air and resume their football conversations about which team has really made the move to contend, etc. Now, there’s just going to be a patch on a player’s practice jerseys to go with it.
I understand that the NFL is already a money-making machine that really doesn’t need to invent new ways to earn income, but is it hurting anyone?! What if this is how the Packers and Texans intend to offset the need to raise ticket prices? Would it really make a difference?!
I do think the NFL should keep this new advertising opportunity limited strictly to pre-season practice. I don’t need to see what appears to be two NASCAR pit crews rolling around on the gridiron on a cold November Sunday. I also don’t need to hear Eric Mangini as he hoists the Vince Lombardi Castrol GTX Motor Oil Trophy over his head (prediction?!), screaming “This one is for the fans, and for the good, hard working people at UPS, and for the Home Depot, and Valtrex, and Oops, I Crapped My Pants adult diapers!”
There is a lot of pride and history in the appearance of each team’s uniform and helmet. The logo means something, the colors mean something, the numbers mean something, and I don’t want to see a StayPuft Marshmallow Man logo slapped on the back of any helmets to take away from that tradition. Other than that, advertise away!
Why don’t we talk about the REAL problem of appearance at NFL training camps… guys like Romeo Crennel, Bill Parcells, and Wade Phillips running around in sweat-soaked tee-shirts and shorts that are a little too short for comfort. That’s just disgusting!!!
(Site note: Debate links: Intro, Loyal Homer, Bleacher Fan, Sports Geek).
